Published 12:00 am, Monday, November 17, 2003

Gordon also has been pointing out to his teammates that the Huskies cant take Yale lightly tonight (7, ESPN2) in a first-round preseason NIT game at Gampel Pavilion. Its a reason why Gordon stuck around after practice Sunday afternoon to take extra jumpers.

"Theyre a good team to play in the opener because theyll make us play," said Gordon, who has scored 1,072 points in his first two seasons. "Theyre a real smart team. You never know what can happen in a game with a team like Yale."

Theres no question that UConn and Yale are at different levels. The Huskies are the nations preseason No. 1 team, the Big East Conference favorite and have played in the postseason 16 straight seasons under coach Jim Calhoun.

UConn is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament and is considered the preseason favorite to win the NCAA title by Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Yale, meanwhile, has only been to the postseason once since making the NCAA tournament in 1962.

But its that one time that has the full attention of Calhoun. It happened two seasons ago when Yale made the NIT and won at Rutgers 67-65 before losing a second-round game against Tennessee Tech at the New Haven Coliseum.

"I keep telling the kids if Yale can go into Rutgers and win, theyre good," Calhoun said. "Theyre a good team. They play with a good, positive, arrogant attitude. Theyre a team that will relish the opportunity to come in here, unlike other teams that come in here, think its a great idea and realize its not such a great idea. (Yale) has gone on the road at places like Stanford (at Wake Forest, at Oklahoma State) recently."

Yale played at all three of the aforementioned places last season and lost en route to a disappointing 14-13 overall record and 8-6 mark in the Ivy League. The Bulldogs, who gave Oklahoma State a scare in the 2002-03 season opener before losing by nine, were picked to finish in a second-place tie with Princeton behind Pennsylvania.

Coach James Jones team can make a loud statement with a strong showing tonight in a game that will be Yales first on ESPN.

"Were excited," Yale senior forward Matt Minoff said. "Were looking at this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to play the No. 1 team in the country on national television in the season opener. Every other team in the country would love to have this chance and we have it. Now weve got to make the most of it."

Jones, entering his fifth season at Yale, is impressed by UConns depth and strength at each position.

"Their balance is just so good," Jones said. "You just cant find any weaknesses. You look at them as a team and they have so many forwards and guards, and theyre all good."

However, the Huskies may be a little weak at point guard. Senior Taliek Brown missed UConns exhibition game Thursday against the Beltway Ballers as well as the past three days of practice with an injured right big toe.

Brown said Sunday he will play but admitted hes still in pain. Calhoun said if Brown cant play, he would start freshman Marcus Williams, who had 15 assists as a starter against an inferior Ballers team.

UConn also is expected to be without 6-foot-11 freshman Charlie Villanueva, who did not play in the two exhibitions as the NCAA investigates an extra benefit question while Villanueva worked out for NBA teams over the summer.

Calhoun thought he would have heard if Villanueva was going to be suspended or cleared by the NCAA prior to the weekend, but said word could come today.